Device for supporting and displaying merchandise



y 1933- N. SNELLING 2,116,647

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Filed Aug. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTQRW May 10, 1938. N. SNELLING 2,116,647

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Filed Aug. 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR May/0145 544:2 L/A/G.

77 ATTORN Y Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE Application August 7, 1936, Serial No. 94,774

7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for supporting and displaying various types and kinds of merchandise regardless of the shape or contour thereof and particularly to providing a support for displaying the merchandise in angular or tilted position as well as to incorporate in conjunction with the support proper an advertising or display surface forming a backing or background for the article placed on display; and the object of the invention is to provide a support and display device of the class described which is fashioned from a single sheet of material cut and folded or assembled to form a substantially conical supporting base, the upper boundary edges of which are of such contour as to conform with and fit snugly on the contour of the article or product supported thereon when in an inclined or tilted position, the base being so designed as to arrange the centre of gravity of the article directly above the conical support in such manner as to prevent accidental displacement of the article from the supporting base; a further object being to provide a support and display device, including an upwardly extending display section forming a backing for the article supported on the device, with means on the backing for engaging a part of the article to aid in retaining the same against displacement as well as to give predetermined contour to said backing or display section; a further object being to provide a support of the class described in connection with which two or more articles may be mounted; a further object being to provide the lower edge portion of the conical base or support with a predetermined cut-out or contour to adapt the same for use upon irregular or uneven supporting surfaces; and with these and other objects in View the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:--

Fig. l is a face View of one form of device which I employ indicating the method of its use.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the blank from which the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive is formed.

Fig.5 is a face view of another form of device which I employ indicating the method of its use. Fig. 6 is a partial section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail view of a part of the blank 5 from which the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is formed.

Fig. 8 is a side view of another form of base which I employ.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the device shown in 10 Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of another formof support indicating the method of its use.

Fig. 11 is a side View of another form of support showing a modified form of the bottom wall 15 structure of said base.

Fig. 12 is another modification of the type disclosed in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side view of a base for supporting two similar articles. 20

Fig. 14 is a side view of a base which I employ for supporting articles in cross relation with respect to each other.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 14; and, 25

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the blank from which the device shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is formed.

Fundamentally, my invention consists in the provision of a substantially conical base or supporting member preferably formed from a single 30 sheet of paper, cardboard, celluloid, metal or any other suitable material depending entirely upon the type of article to be supported, and the expense to be incurred in the production of the base. At this time, it will be understood that 35 this base may be printed, lithographed or otherwise characterized to present an attractive and ornamental appearance or to be coated in one or more colors, or formed from material of different colors. Supplemental thereto, I may employ 40 what I term a backing or display section as a unitary part of the base and of any desired shape or contour, and upon which printing, lithographing or other markings may be applied to produce an attractive display, or incorporate any literature 45 or symbols to be associated with the displayed article including names, trade-marks, as well as selling prices of the product. 1

Each base or supporting member has its upper boundary edges so laid out and cut as to pro- 50 vide a seat when the sheet is formed into the cone, in WhlCh the article may be supported, preferably in a tilting or inclined position in order to produce a more attractive display, and these edges will conform with and fit snugly upon the bound- 55 ary wall of the particular product when arranged in the inclined position thereon. Further, it will be understood that the seating edges of the base will so engage the inclined product as to position the center of gravity at a point as near as possible centrally over the base so as to prevent accidental displacement of the product therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several supporting bases for use in connection with flat or elliptical bottles, round cans, round bottles and irregularly shaped bottles, and it will be understood that the base may be fashioned to suit products or articles of any desired form and contour.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown a device for supporting and displaying a fiat or elliptical bottle, such as is commonly employed as a container for alcoholic beverages and, as shown, the device consists of a conical base I! having a fiat or straight lower surface I8, an upper irregular bearing or seating surface l9 conforming with the contour of the bottle 20 when in the tilted position clearly represented in Fig. l of the drawings. At 2|, I have shown a backing or display section which is continuous with one end portion 22 of the base ll, as well be seen upon a consideration of the blank shown in Fig. 4, said end portion having a notch or recess 23 adapted to receive a projecting tongue 24 on the other end portion 25 of the base. The display or backing section 2! may be of any desired peripheral contour and fashioned at a predetermined point thereon to form a semi-circular loop 26 adjacent an aperture 21, the loop having a projecting tongue 28 adapted to engage the upper neck portion 20a of the bottle to aid in supporting the bottle in position and also to give a curved flexure to the backing 2 l as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the overlapped end portions 22 and 25, in forming the conical base II, will have bearing or seating edges I9'of the same contour so that one continuous bearing line will prevail throughout the upper edge of the base and fit snugly upon the surface of the bottle 2D, the raised rounded portion 29 forming a back wall support for the bottle.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings, I have shown another form of support and display in which the conical base Ila has an upper bearing or seating edge l9a with a raised wall portion 29a for supporting a can or cylindrical support 30,

the supporting edge I901. being suitably notched,

as indicated at 3| to receive the beaded edge of the can 311, which is indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings. With this construction, the display or backing portion 2la is cut out to form a can engaging tongue 32 to support the display 2| in proper position. With this construction, the base Fla. is also provided with an irregular cut or slit 33 for receiving a tongue end 34 on the display section 2! to further aid in supporting said section in predetermined position. The base lla is: provided with an aperture 230. and a tongue 24a for supporting the same in conical position or for coupling the end portions 220. and 25a together as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In Figs. 8 to 16 inclusive, I have shown other forms of construction in which the upper display or backing sections are eliminated but it will be understood that such sections may be included if desired, and on the other hand, the simple forms of base supports may be employed, the

same having sufficient display or advertising area to apply display or advertising matter thereon.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have shown a base lib having a bearing or seating edge l9b of a contour to conform with a bottle 35, such as indicated in dotted lines. in Fig. 8. The bearing seat has a raised backing portion 291) as well as notched portions 3m similar to the notches 3! shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, I have shown aperspective view of another form of base I10, the bearing or seating edge I of which is of such contour as to receive and support a round bottle such as shown at 36. The raised wall portion is indicated at 29c and the notched portions 3lb. At this time, it will be understood that the bearing edges I90 not only conform with the contour of the outer surfaces of the article to be supported but also the lower surface thereof, for example, thecurved end portion 3'! in Fig. 10 is adapted to fit a hollowed bottom wall structure of the bottle 35.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings, I have shown at Ild the conical base for supporting a long thin can or cylinder 38. In other words, the base I'Id is substantially similar to the base Na in this respect, the bearing edges I 901 being modified simply to conform with the different diameter which prevails in the article 38.

The main difference in the base Hd, however, resides in the cut out or recessed portion 39 formed in the lower edge of the base so as to facilitate the mounting of the base upon two cans 38a arranged horizontally and side by side on a suitable support. This construction permits the angular display of one can in the conical display llcl, the latter being arranged and supported on two similar cans in the manner illustrated.

The same idea can be carried out in supporting a can or cylinder 40 upon a base He, the lower edge of which is provided with a cut-out as at 39a to seat upon the upper ends of three cans 40a arranged in upright position. It will also be understood that other forms or outlines of the lower walls or edges of the conical bases may be provided to suit various kinds and classes of uneven surfaces.

The importance of the foregoing is especially essential where the base or the material employed in constructing the same is of lightweight or frail material when used in supporting a relatively heavy article. When the proper centre of gravity is provided with respect to a conical base so that the article seats or rests on a continuous bearing surface, the thrust or pressure is distributed equally throughout the conical base to the lower edges thereof which in turn must be supported throughout the circumference thereof, in order to sustain the load. Of course where the base is composed of strong and durable material, or of heavy cardboard, the importance of the amount of bearing surface is not a factor.

At this time attention is also directed to the fact that in some cases and especially in supporting articles of extremely heavy weight, such for example as a can of paint, the base may be designed and constructed so as to terminate at the lower edge of the base line, for example, the dot and dash line 4| of Fig. 12 of the drawings so that the lower corner portion of the can will actually rest upon the supporting surface to take the bulk of the load, and yet the base will support the article in its inclined or tilted position against displacement, and this result can be accomplished with a base of relatively light material.

In Fig. 13 of the drawings, I have shown at llf another form of base provided with two similar bearing edges I91 for supporting two similar articles 42, side by side, or back to back. A device of this type may be used for supporting such articles as packages of gum, cylindrical candy packages, such as Life-Savers, and this modification simply shows the adoption of a base to a dual support.

In Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive, I have shown another modification wherein a pair of similar articles 420. may be supported in crossed relation with respect to each other on a base l'lg having a pair of similar bearing edges I9g. The blank from which the device Hg is formed is shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. With the construction shown in the latter figures as well as Fig. 13 it is important that a centre of gravity be maintained so as to individually support each article sothat the removal of one article will not displace the other article or cause the base to tilt or collapse.

From the foregoing, it will appear that the fundamental and basic principles of my invention reside in the provision of a conical or substantially conical supporting base having upper cut-out edges forming bearing or seating edges which define and conform with the outer surfaces of a predetermined article when arranged on the base in an. inclined or tilted position. Supplemental to this is a further feature of a backing or display section which will aid in displaying or offsetting the article and in some cases this display section may be coupled with the article and/or the base aside from the integral formation therewith as at 34 in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

It will also be understood that certain standard forms of bases Will be found suitable for supporting many types and kinds of merchandise of substantially the same contour and size, it being understood that slight differences in peripheral contour or design will not materially effect the adaptation of the article to the socalled standardized base, for example, the base ll will be applicable for use in conjunction with many kinds and classes of fiat or elliptical bottles or other articles whereas the bases Ila, Nd, and He may be used in conjunction with various kinds and classes of cans or cylindrical articles. For example, the bottle 36 could be successfully supported on the base Ila and in like manner, the base l'lc may be suitable for many types of can or other cylindrical bodies as Well as bottles or other articles of the general contour disclosed.

It will thus be seen that three or four standard sizes of bases will suit many kinds or classes of articles, it being understood that the display sections or areas will be modified to suit the desires and fancy of the concern or manufacturer of the product to be displayed.

It will be understood that the base I! will find its use in supporting cylindrical articles having hollowed or recessed wall portions, such for example, as the bottle 35 shown in Fig. 8. However, the question of devising bases suitable for articles of irregular shape or contour is simply a matter of mechanical lay-out of the design or pattern of the blank suitable for constructing the base.

One of the distinctive features of my invention resides in the fact that the support may be produced in the flat or sheet form for convenient packing and shipment in such form, and may be readily set up for use and, in this connection, it will be understood that any type of securing means may be provided for attaching the '1 end portions of the conical base and in some cases it may be practical and desirable to provide more or less permanent attachment of such end portions, in which case, the same may be stapled, glued or otherwise secured together, del pending entirely upon the type of material employed in the construction thereof.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A device for supporting an article of merchandise in an angular or inclined position, said device comprising a conical base the upper edge of which is fashioned to form a bearing or seating surface substantially defining and fitting the contour of that portion of the article arranged on said base, said base being formed from a fiat sheet of material folded to conical formation, means for coupling the end portions of the sheet together to form said conical base, a display or backing section on said base, and said section being integral with the base and including a part detachably coupled with the base to aid in supporting the section in connection therewith.

2. A device for supporting an article of merchandise in an angular or inclined position, said device comprising a conical base the upper edge of which is fashioned to form a bearing or seating surface substantially defining and fitting the contour of that portion of the article arranged on said base, said base being formed from a flat sheet of material folded to conical formation, means for coupling the end portions of the sheet together to form said conical base, a display or backing section on said base, said section being integral with the base and including a part detachably coupled with the base to aid in supporting the section in connection therewith, and said section including a cut-out portion for engaging a part of the article arranged in spaced relation to the base.

3. A means for supporting articles of merchandise in an inclined position, comprising a support formed of thin lightweight sheet material having substantially the shape of a truncated cone and having an irregular upper edge, said edge shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be supported in such manner that the weight of the article is substantially equally distributed throughout the extent of said edge, thereby preventing localized stresses or strains on any part of the wall structure of said support.

4. A means for supporting articles of merchandise in an inclined position, comprising a support formed of thin lightweight sheet material having substantially the shape of a truncated cone and having an irregular upper edge, said edge shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be supported in such manner that the weight of the ar ticle is substantially equally distributed. through out the extent of said edge, thereby preventing localized stresses or strains on any part of the wall structure of said support, and the lower edge of said support being of irregular contour to fit snugly upon a corresponding irregular contour of a surface upon which the support is arranged.

5. A device for supporting articles of merchandise in an inclined position, comprising a conical member of thin lightweight sheet material, said member having an irregular edge shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be supported on said member, said edge engaging the article in such manner that the weight of the article is substantially equally distributed throughout the extent of said edge, and a display section on said member and associated with the article arranged on the member to produce an attractive display of the entire device.

6. A device for supporting articles of merchandise in an inclined position, comprising a conical member of thin lightweight sheet material, said member having an irregular edge shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be supported on said member, said edge engaging the article in such manner that the weight of the article is substantially equally distributed throughout the extent of said edge, a display section on said member and associated with the article arranged on the member to produce an attractive display of the entire device, said display being formed integral with the sheet material of said member, and means for coupling part of the display with the member to aid in the mounting of the display thereon.

'7. A device for supporting articles of merchandise in an inclined position, comprising a conical member of thin lightweight sheet material, said member being cut-out to form a plurality of unit seating surfaces, each unit surface having irregular edges shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be supported therein, said edges engaging the articles in such manner that the weight of the articles is substantially equally dis tributed throughout the extent of said edges, thereby preventing localized stresses or strains on any part of said member in supporting said articles.

NICHOLAS SNELLING. 

